Method of producing pipe fittings



April 29, 1941.

J. H. TAYLOR METHOD OF PRODUGINGPIPE FITTINGS Filed July 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1y 1 April 29, 1941. A, J, H TAYLOR l 2,240,319

METHOD OF PRODUCING PIPE FITTINGS I Filed July 24, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, V1941 OFFICE METHOD "or PnoDUcmG PIPE m'rTmGs James nan Taylor, oak Para m. Application July 24, 1939, serial No. 286,136 'I 4 claims. (ci. 29,-157).

This invention relates to the manufacture of wrought metal pipe ttings of the nature of Ts,

having a trunk orvbody provided withan exten-y sion or neck substantially perpendicular to the trunk, and has to do with an improved method and improved apparatus for producing such tting's.

It is known to produce a T by reducing the end portions of a tubular blank and thereby producing a protuberance at one side of the blank, and then form the protuberance toprovide the neck of the T. In such known method, however, the wall of the neck of the Tis of the same thickness as the wall of the bo-'ly or trunk of the T; The neck opening through the trunk weakens the wall of the latter and if a T, produced by theA known method referred to, be subjected to interior bursting pressure it will burst at theA base of-the neck, which is the weakest portion of the structure. In order to avoid that diiculty it is the usual practice to form Ts, when produced in accordance with the known method referred to, from blanks having a wall thickness appreciably greater than the wall thickness. of the pipe with which the T is to be used, thewall thickness of such blanks being referred to as of greater than standard thickness, the wall thickness of the pipe to which the T is to be applied being considered as standard, That is objectionable as necessitating the use in the production of the T of a greater amount of metalthan would be necessary if the T were produced from a blank of standard wall thickness, that is, of the same wall thickness as the pipe to which the T isto be applied.

In my Patent No. 1,892,712, issued January 3, 1933, I'have disclosed a method of producing a T, in the manner above stated,` in which patent outward extensions or skirts are produced at the vend portions of the trlmk of .the T, it being necessary to move suchskirts and end portions of the T trunk in nishing the lT. The removed-metal is waste, which is objectionable for obvious reasons.

certain respects, I find that that method can be -tubular blank b such as that shown in Figure 1.

tions of a tubular blank, of standard wall thickness, from one sidel thereof and thereby displace and redistribute metal at the middle portion of that side in such manner that the wall and the base portion of the neck of the T is materially thickened and thereby' reinforced, to such an ex- 'tent that the area of the T at the base of the neck is at least as strongas the remaining portions of the T. In accomplishing the results referred to, I employ certain novel apparatus, effective for displacing and redistributing the metal of the blank in the manner referred to, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appea fromthe detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central lengthwise sectional view through a tubular blank Vfrom which the T of my invention is .to be produced;

Figure 2 is. a central sectional view through the blank of Figure 1 with an end portion thereof formed between cooperating inner and outer dies,

shown in elevation and in section, respectively, illustrating the rst step of mymethod;

Figure 3` is a sectional view through a pair of Y exterior dies and a blank formed thereby over an interior die, shown in elevation, illustrating the second step of my method;

Figure 4 is a central lengthwise sectional view throughI the partially formed blank of, Figure 3 disposed over an interior die, shown in elevation, and a pair of opposed exterior dies, shown in section, illustrating the third step of my invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a continuation of the 'step shown in the latter gure;.and

.Figure 6 is a central lengthwise sectional view through a T produced by my method.

In producing a T in accordance with the method of my invention, I start with a wrought metal A substantially semi-elliptical area 1 of vthis blank,

While the method of my patent referred to possesses certain advantages and is eflicient in improvedupon by eliminating the waste of metal referred to. .v v

` The instant invention is directed primarily to the production of Ts and analogous pipe fittings from tubular blanks of standard wall thickness,

that is, of the same wall thickness as the pipe to.

. which the T is tobe applied, and to the reduction of waste metal to a minimum, to the end of reduced cost in the production of T-s and analogous nttings. More specifically. 1 reduce the end porat one end portion thereof, is heated in a suitable manner to a proper working ltemperature such that the metal of that area, when subjected to pressure, will readily ow. The blank b, with the area 1 thereof heated as stated, is then placed upon an interior die 8 xedly. mounted in a suitable manner and provided with a collar 9 against which the otherend of the blank seats. Die 8 comprises a cylindrical boch/.I0 extending4 from collar 9 and having its other end portion Il of reduced diameter, with a shoulder I2 extending y between the portions I0 and II and inclinedA at inward a short distance.

such an angle that the metal of portion 1 of the blank, when subjected to pressure, will readily flow upward along the shoulder. I nnd that having shoulder I2 at an inclination of approximately 30 to portion II of die 8 produces satisfactory results. The interior die 8 cooperates with an exterior die I3 having a cylindrical bore I4 extending from its outer end, this bore being of a radius greater than the radius of portion II of die 8 by an amount equal to the thickness of the wall of blank b. This blank isof standard wall thickness, that is, of the same wall thickness as the pipe to which the T to be produced is to be applied, Outer die I3 is further provided, at one side thereof, with a recess I5 similar in shape to shoulder I2 of die 8, the inner end of this recess merging into a bore I6 extending from the inner end of die I3 and of the same diameter as the exterior of blank b.

After blank b, with the area 1 thereof heated as stated, has been placed over the interior die 8, exterior die I3 is moved toward die 8, in the direction of the arrow a, into the position shown in Figure 2. In the latter figure the position of the end portion of blank b extending about shoulder I2 and portion II of die 8, when the blank is disposed upon the latter die and preliminary to inward movement of die I3, is indicated, in part, by the dot and dash lines. In the inward movement of die I3 the upper side portion of blank b is reduced and the shoulder of the recess I5 of die I3 subjects that portion of the blank to combine radial and lengthwise inward pressure. The metal from portion 1 of the blank is thus displaced by a combined upsetting and scraping action and is redistributed in such manner as to provide a thickened wall element I1 extending from the upper side of the reduced end portion of the blank to the central unreduced portion of the blank. The thickening of the metal at element I1vis provided for by having the shoulder I2 and the wall of recess I5 of die I3 so related as 'to define a space of maximum width orthickness adjacent the reduced end portion of the blank and tapering toward such portion and toward the unreduced central por,- tion of the blank, as will be clear from Figure 2. During the inward movement of die I3 the shoulder of recess I5 of that die may exert, a scraping and upsetting effect on the metal sufiicient to move the upper portion of the end of the blank The end of the reduced portion of the blank then is beveled or inclined as shown in Figure 2. In the latter iigure the inclination of the end of the reduced portion of the blank is exaggerated for purposes of illustration. In practice such beveling or inclination of the end of the blank due to reducxedly mounted in a suitable manner. This re duced end portion of the blank is also inserted into an exterior die 20, seating against collar I9, the latter die having a recess 2I rconforming to the exterior surface of the thickened wall portion I1 of the blank, which recess merges into a cylindrical bore 22, of the same diameter as the exterior of the reducedend portion of the blank, and Va cylindrical bore 23 of the same diameter as the exterior of the unreduced central portion of the blank. The reduced end` portion of the blank, as well as the unreduced central portion thereof and the portion corresponding to the thickened wall element I1, is confined, by means of the exterior die 20 and the interior die I8, in such manner as effectively. to prevent distortion thereof. When the blank b1 of Figure 2 is thus positioned between the dies I8 and 20, the unreduced end portion of this blank occupies the position indicated by dot and dash lines in Figure 3. An area of this unreduced end portion of the blank, corresponding to area 'I of Figure 1, is then heated to suitable Working temperature, or this area may be heated to suitable working temperature before positioning the blankV upon die I8. Thereafter an exterior die 24, substantially similar to die I3, is moved inward along the interior die I8, in the direction of the arrow a1. During inward movement of die 24 the end portion of the blank remote from collar I9 is reduced from the same side thereof as the other end portion of the original blank, producing the thickened wall element l1 similar to the element I1 produced by the exterior die I3 and the interior die 8. It will be noted that the interior die I8 of Figure 3ds of uniform diameter. When the die 24 moves inward of interior die I8 lengthwise thereof, the other end portion of the blank is cold and is confined against distortion by the tion thereof may, inmany cases, be very slight and, in some cases, may not occur to any appre ciable extent. After the blank of Figure 1 has had its end portion reduced and shaped by means of the die I3 cooperating with'the interior die 8,

it becomes the partially formed blank b1 of Figure 2. In the latter blank the thickened element' I1 and the adjacent unreduced central portion of the blank form a projection at one side thereof.

Blank b1 is then removed from the interior die 8 and is placed over anrinterior cylindrical die I8 corresponding in diameter to the interior diameter of the reduced end portion of blank b1, the end of this reduced portion of the blank being first trimmed, if inclined, so as to be normal to the axis of the blank, and seating against a stop collar I 8 at one end of die I8, the latter die being Vabove stated. Consequently,

exterior die 20 and interior die I8, in the manner during inward movement of die 24 the heated area of the corresponding end portion of the blank is subjected to inward endwise and radial pressure and the displaced metal flows along the path of least resistance,.into and along the wall of the recess of die 24, so as to produce the thickened wall element I1 referred to. The two thickened wall elements I1 are connected, at their inner ends, by wall element 25 at the unreduced central portion of the blank, thus producing the blank of Figure 3. which may be designated b2. The elements I1 and 25 together constitute a'protuberance 26 at one side of the blank b2, this blank comprising a body or trunk having the reduced end portions and the protuberance 26 between such end portions at one side of the blank.

The .blank b2 is then providedrwith a suitable opening 21 through protuberance 26 centrally thereof, by punching or in any other suitable manner, producing the blank l)3 of Figure 4. This blank is placed over an interior cylindrical die 28 of a diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the reduced end portions of the blank; Die 28 is provided with a recess whichA reinforcing the base of the neck and the it practicable to producef collar or iiange 32 on die 28. Upper die 38 is provided with a cylindrical opening 33 of a diameter corresponding to the'exterior diameter of the neck of the T, the inner or base portion of opening 33 being dened by a rounded :Iillet 34. A pull rod 35 is then inserted through opening 2l and 'is secured to plug 29 centrally thereof. conveniently by screw means. Rod 35 is then pulled upward, as indicated by the arrow, raising plug 29 out of die 28 into contact with the inner face of protuberance 28. In the continued upward movement of rod 35 and plug 29 protuberance 26 is bent upward and outward and is shaped conformably to the opening 33,\as will be clear from Figure 5. This upward movement of the plug continues until the opening 2'I has been expanded 'to a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of plug 29, which then passes upward through the neck thus produced. In this manner the protuberance 26 is shaped to provide the neck of the T, the upper end of which neck may be trimmed olf, as may be the ends of the body or trunk of the T, if desired. The T in its finished form is shown in Figure 6. It will be noted that in the finished T the neck 26a is connected at its base portion to the body or trunk of the T by-llets I'Ia of considerably greater `wallthickness than the remainder ofthe T. These llets electively reinforce the T at the area of juncture between the neck and the trunk thereof, eliminating danger of bursting of the T in that area. By thus adjacent areas of the T, I render the T from a blank of standard wall thickness, that is, of the same wall which the tageous as effecting duction of the T, since it eliminates necessity of using a blank of greater than standard wall thickness. Also, since in practice the inclination of the ends of the blank, incident to reduction of the end portions thereof, may be slight or nonexistent, the necessity of trimming any considerable amount of metal from the blank or the T in the process of production thereof is eliminated, thus effecting a further saving in that respect.

In Figures 2 and 3 I have assumed, for purposes of description, that the dies I3 and 24 are the movable. dies, the dies 9 and I 9 being the xed dies. That'is not essential to the method of my invention, however, and either or both of the dies, 'in either case, may be moved endwise, it sumcing so long as the dies have relative endwise movement effective for accomplishing the results desired. I consider the shouldered die 8 of Figure 2, cooperating with the as'providing simple andemcient means whereby one end portion of the blank may be reduced preliminary to reduction of the other end portion thereof, a shouldered interior die not being necessary to reduction of the other end portion of the blank, for the reasons above stated. Within the broader aspects of my invention, the reduction and shaping of the end portions and associated elements of the blank may be effected in any desired order by any` other means suitable for that purpose. By properly heating both of the end portions of the blank'b, placing it upon an interior die I8 of suitable length, and imparting relative movement to dies 2'0 and 24 of Figure 3 lengthwise of die I8, one toward the other. the blank b2 of Figure 3 maybe produced from the blank b of Figure 1 in a single operation. While that is satisfactory in many cases, I prefer, in

exterior die I3, of value latter ligure.

I claim: 1. The method of producing a T, which comprises heating selected areas at one side of the end portions of a tubular metal blank tosuchl a temperature that the metal thereof will `readily flow when subjected to pressure, subjecting such areas to combined inward radial and lengthwisepressure effective for reducing the end portions of the blank relative to the central portion thereof and for upsetting the wall of the blank at the areas of juncture between the end portions and the central portion, thereby producing the trunk offthe T and -a protuberance at said one side of the trunk intermediate the: end .portions thereof with the wall of the base portion of the protuberance -of greater thickness than that of the trunk, andforming the protuberance to nal size and shape'thereby producing the neck of the T joined to the trunk by a iillet of greater wall thickness than the trunk.

2. The method of producing a T, which comprisesheating a selected area at one side of one end portion of a tubular metal blank to such `a temperature that the metal thereof will readily flow when subjected to pressure, reducing said end portion relative to the central portion of the blank from said one side thereof by subjectthickness as the pipe to. T is to be applied. That is advansaving in metal in the proing it to combined inward radial and lengthwise pressure between an interior shouldered die and an exterior recessed die effective for upsetting the wall of the blank at the area of juncture b etween the central portion, similarly heating and reducing the other end portion of the blank from said one side thereof by subjecting ,it to combined inward radial and lengthwise pressure between an interior die and an exterior recessed die, thereby pro- .the central lportion ducing the trunk of the T and a protuberance at one side of said trunk with the wall lof the base portion of the protuberance of greater thickness than the contiguous wall or the trunk, and forming the protuberance to final size and shape thereby producing the neck of the T joined to the trunk by a lletof greater. wail thickness than the trunk. A

3. The method of producing a T, which comprises heating selected areas at one side of the end portions of a tubular metal blank to such `a temperature that the metal thereof will readily ow when subjected to pressure, reducing the end portions relative to the central portion of the blank from said one side thereof by subjecting said end portions to combined inward radial and lengthwise pressure between interior dies and cooperating exterior dies interiorly recessed and shouldered effective for upsetting the wall ofthe blank at the areas of juncture between and said reduced end portions, thereby producing the trunk of the T anda protuberance at one side of said trunk with the wall of the base portion of the protuberance of greaterV thickness than the contiguous wall of the trunk, and forming the protuberance to final size and shape thereby producing the neck of the T joined to the trunk by a llet of greater wall thickness than the trunk.

4. 'I'he method of producing a T,` which comthe end portions of a tubular metal blank to such a temperature that the metal thereof will readily now when subjected to Dressure, subjecting' said end'portions at one side portion and said reduced end 4 Y y mmm thereof to combined inward radial and lengthwisepressure effective for reducingthe end portions of the blank relative to the central portion thereof and for upsetting the wail of the blank atthe areas of juncture between the end portips and the central portion, thereby produeinl o thtrunk of the 1' and a'protuberanoe at said one' side or me trunk intermediate the end por-l nnal size and shape therebyproduclnx the neck ofthe'rjoinedtothetrunkbyanlletof greater wall thickness than the trunk.

.nume HALL muon. 

